By Dedra Cordle
Staff Writer
What has the Showstoppers actors Barbara Morris, Prudence Gifford, Donna Christensen and Jean Slussar so upset? Hint: It involves wedding day chaos in the group’s upcoming comedic play, Homer and Gwendolyn Take the Plunge.
Wedding fiascos may not be great to watch as they are happening in real time, but they sure can leave some lasting memories.
Shortly after the Showstopper’s Acting Group ended a rehearsal for their beloved original play, “Homer and Gwendolyn Take the Plunge,” a small gathering of people spoke about some of the wedding mishaps they have witnessed throughout the years as attendees. They asked to remain anonymous to protect the identities of the eternally embarrassed.
“I saw an inebriated priest,” said one.
“A flower girl threw up during the ceremony,” said another.
“The groom fainted when he found out his wife-to-be was pregnant,” said yet another.
“I saw a bride walk down the aisle with the tag still on her dress.”
“Instead of taking the rice out of the bag, this person started throwing the bags of rice.”
On and on these disaster stories went until they could only sum up their experiences like this: you see the most comical things in weddings. And sometimes, you can even be inspired by them.
While on vacation several years ago, Bev Longmire went to an Off-Broadway show called
“Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding.” Thinking the play about a chaotic Italian-American wedding hilarious, she thought it would be interesting to see the talented acting group at the E.L. Evans Senior Center perform a similar play, but only have it be a little tamer. When no current works came to mind, she, Adrian Jahn and Diane Mills got to work adapting their version of “Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding.”
“We sat there writing and just laughed and laughed,” said Longmire, who is the current manager of the E.L. Evans Senior Center.
Eventually, they came up with “Homer and Gwendolyn Take the Plunge,” which tells the tale of how two opposites found love and how they lost it during one disastrous ceremony filled with forgetful ministers, drunken relatives and unearthed secrets.
Though it was completed nearly 15 years ago, next month will mark the third time this original play has been performed, a fact that leaves the community dismayed.
“It’s our most requested play,” said coordinator Judy Lewis.
Lewis said she believes the reason why “Homer and Gwendolyn Take the Plunge” has resonated with so many people is because it is easily identifiable and very humorous.
“I love how funny it is,” she said.
Like a reluctant bride or groom, no date was given for any future performances so fans and curiosity seekers should be like Homer and Gwendolyn, take the plunge, and see the play while it is around. The brief run will take place on June 3 at the Evans Senior Center, 4330 Dudley Avenue, with performances at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and June 4 at 1 p.m. There is no cost to attend but donations are welcomed, as are canned foods that will be given to the Grove City Food Pantry.
